Centrifugal switch



Aug. 30, 1938. G. s. MOORE ET Al.

GENTRIFUGAL SWITCH Filed Feb. 21, 1G58 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 30, 1938. G. s. MOORE Er AL CENTRIFUGAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1938 wm A www im.

v Patented Aug. 30, 1938 Rossum l CENTRIFUGAL SWITCH JAN 2 s 1940 Giles S. Moore, Indianapolis, Ind., and Elmer G. Streckfuss, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to G. B. M. Electric Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind.,

- a corporation of Indiana Application February 21, 1938, Serial No. 191,784

6 Claims. (Cl. 20c-80) This invention relates to electrical switches broadly and is particularly concerned with switches of the governor-controlled type generally used with signal and like circuits wherein their edges only are wiped by the common conductor brush, thereby permitting a secure and compact unit in which any chance of sticking or bending during service is eliminated and insuring 6 a plurality of signals, such as lights or audible maximum life to the switch unit in general. 5 sounding devices, are adapted to be electrically Further objects are:4 to generally improve energized in successive order, such for example and render more durable switch units oi the mulas the electric speedometer-odometer-signal systiple Contact type. t provide a switch unit which tem disclosed in the copending application of may be manufactured in volume and at a rela- Guess. Moore, serial No. 190,492 med February tively low cost. and to generally simplify and ren- 10 14, 1933 der more durable switches of this type.

Commercial production of the foregoing type The fcregcing and Other Objects and advanof switch umts involve problems which are not tages Will become appa-rent in View of the folapparent in experimental units. Each group of lowing descriDtlOn taken in conjunction with the l5 signals generally calls for a dierently timed drawings, wherein: l5

switch, and since certain tolerancesA must be Fig- 1 is aphantom view in sectional side elemede for governor springs, the Contact bank vation of the front portion of a motor vehicle. must also be adjusted to compensate for certain illustrating the improved switch operatively invariations in strength of the spring. Hence, if stalled in conjunction With en electric speedomaccuracy is to be maintained. the switch bank eter-odometer-signal unit; 20 must be set or timed not only in accordance with Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken the stepped signals but also in accordance with through the drivers compartment of Fig. 1; variation in the governor action of the respective Fig. 3 is a plan View 0f the improved goverunit nor-switch assembly with the top of cover plate An important object of the present invention, of the housing or switch box removed; Y 25 therefore, is to provide a switch of the stepped- Fig. 4 is a view in section and end elevation signal, governor-controlled type embodying a taken substantially 0n the lille 4-4, Fig. 3; and bank of contacts so constructed as to be readily` Fig. 5 iS awlring diagram for the signal cir adjustable to time the switch in accordance with cuit 0f Figs. 1 and 2 with the improved switch the signals with which it may be associated and incorporated therein. 30

also to compensate for variation in the actu- Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a signal system for veating parte of the switch, hicles of that type wherein a bank of signal Another object of the invention is to provide lights indicating stepped mileages are mounted a switch unit of the type speciiied having a. exteriorly of the vehicle, and another bank,

multiple of contacts arranged to be contacted in namely, a speedometer bank, are mounted on the 35 successive order by a movable switch member, interior of the vehicle to indicate a speed of travsuch as a common conductor brush, the said conel 0f the latter. The system illustrated also intacts being unusually compact and permanently. cludes diagrammatically an electrically driven braced against displacement due to shocks and odometer. These units call for a switch of the jars incident to the travel of the vehicle or other multiple contact type having a multiple switch 4U objects towhich the signal system may be apmember adapted to wipe the contacts in direct plied. relation to the speed of travel of the vehicle.

another object of the invention is to provide a In Figs, 1 and 2, the vehicle is generally indiwiltlch of tht? vllllltiple ctlactigtolem'xl.: cated at A and may be powered by the conven- 4., rc ed ype a 11g .a mov e SW C ar tional internal combustion engine at dotted outrying a brush which 1s energized from a relatively une which is indicated at M A speedometer is stationary Amember to which the common conn i d. t d t 5 d ductor is connected, thereby eliminating the negenera y n ma' e a an embodies a Series of cessity of insulating the governor actuated switch lights 5'?" 5b] 5c 5d 5e an? 5f ,on the top 0f arm and permitting use of metal parts at points the vehicle 1s a bank of signal lights generally 50 where a bearing action takes place. indicated at l and embodying a plurality of lights Another object of the invention is to provide a la, 1b "ci "d and 7e- The speedometer Casing multip1e contact, governor-controlled switch ls mounted on the conventional panel board 6- wherein the respective contacts which make up The improved governor control switch unit em- 56 the bank consist of flat segments so arranged that bodying the features of the present invention is 55 mounted in a switch box I and is illustrated more or less in detail ,in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, a governor shaft 9 is mounted in bearings III and lila installed at opposite ends of the switch box or housing 9, said shaft being suitably connected to the drive shaft of the motor vehicle, not shown, in any conventional manner, such as through the medium of the coupling members II and I2, the connection being made through the block of the motor M.

Mounted on the shaft 9 is a synchronizing governor comprising a plurality of weights Ila, I9b and llc, each of which is pivotally connected to links Il, the said links in turn being pivotally connected at one end to collar I5 which is fixed or anchored against longitudinal movement on the shaft 9 and at their opposite ends to a sliding sleeve I8 having an annular groove I1 formed therein, the sleeve being mounted to slide longitudinally on the said shaft 9. Between the anchor member or collar i5 and the sleeve IB is a governor spring I9.

The operation of governors of this general type is well understood in the art. As the shaft 9 revolves, the weights are caused to swing outwardly due to centrifugal force, the sliding sleeve I9 moving inwardly against the resistance of the spring I9, reduction in speed of the shaft 9 causing a reversal of movement of the sleeve I9.

'I'he switch proper comprises a plurality of contact segments I 9a, I9b, I9c, I 9d, I9e and I9] having dielectric or insulating material 20 therebetween, the segments and insulating material being adjustably secured to a suitable support or bracket 2| anchored to the switch box or housing l. The contact segments i90-Isf are mounted so that they may be conveniently and accurately adjusted, and with this in view, an anchor bolt 22 is passed through the one extremity of the block of segments and insulating material while at the opposite extremity the said block is anchored through the medium of an adjusting screw 2l which passes through registering clearance slots 2l formed through the block.

At their rear ends, each of the contact segments I9a-I9f is formed with connecting eyes I9 for accommodating wiring connections to the various speedometer and signal lights, while at their opposite ends said segments have their edges arranged in progressively stepped relation arcuately. The contact segment I9a is the common conductor segment and is connected with a lead to the battery, indicated at I9', Fig. 5, said segment having its contact edge arranged for permanent engagement by a contact member in the form of a spring brush 25a mounted on a block 25. The block 25 is secured on the end of a lever or arm 26 which is pivoted or fulcrumed on a shaft 26a constituting an extension of bolt 22 and having its inner end stationarily anchored to a boss formed on the housing 9. At its inner end, the arm 26 is provided with a roller 2Gb adapted to ride in the groove I1 of the sliding sleeve I5.

A spring 21 is connected at one end to the lever 26 and at its opposite end is adjustably anchored to the housing 9 through the medium of screw 21a. This spring with its exteriorly-accessible adjustment provides a convenient means for regulating the action of the governor, or of the parts controlled thereby.

It will be seen that as the shaft 9 rotates, the sleeve I6 will reciprocate longitudinally on said shaft, thereby actuating the crank or lever 26 and causing the brush 25a to wipe the contact segments 19a-I9! in successive order and in accordance with the adjustment of the latter. Since the contact edge of the common conductor segment or plate I9a has an arcuate contour such as will always maintain it in contact with the brush 25a. the latter will receive current from the battery or other source of potential through this plate and transmit the current to the remaining segments as it contacts the latter. Thus A plate I9a serves as a common conductor, through the brush, for the remaining segments.

A resistance unit or rheostat 28 is shown mounted in an insulating block 29a secured to the inner side wall oi.' the casing 9. Another brush or contact spring 29 is connected to the block 25 opposite the brush 25a and is energized through contact with the latter. A wire 39, note Fig. 5, connects with the one end of the rheostat and passesthrough an insulating grommet 3l mounted in a housing B. Another grommet 32 is also secured in the housing 9 to accommodate wiring from segments I9a-I9f to the speedometer and signal lights. The wire 3i) is shown connected to a motor in Fig. 5 which may be a drive motor for an odometer, such as illustrated in the Giles S. Moore application heretofore referred to, or may be any other electrical device. It will also be understood that the resistance unit could be substituted by another bank of contacts or the like.

As will be obvious, the contact segments may be varied in number in accordance with the number of signals to be accommodated.

The switch operates as follows, reference being made to the wiring diagram in Fig. 5 in conjunction with the remaining ilgures:

It will be noted that the battery B is connected directly to the common conductor segment I9a. Since the arcuate contact end or edge of the segment I9a lies in substantially the same arcuate plane as that defined by the furthermost advanced contact edges of the remaining segments, it will always be contacted by the brush 25a, and the respective contact segments I9b-I9f will be energized in respective order as the brush 25a contacts the ends of the said latter segments. The governor I3 operates in accordance with the speed of the travel of the vehicle to move sleeve i6 back and forth on the shaft 9, thereby actuating lever or arm 26 and causing the brushes 25a and 29 to move back and forth in contact with the segments I9-I9a and the resistance unit or .rheostat 29. respectively, also in direct relation to the speed of travel of the vehicle.

Means are provided for mechanically connecting the governor shaft 9 with the drive shaft of a speedometer, note Fig. 2.

It will be understood that certain changes in structure and design ofthe improved unit may be adopted generally within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a switch unit of the type specified, a governor, a plurality of plate-like contact members having edge contact surfaces arranged in stepped relation arcuately, a switch member having a brush adapted to wipe said contact surfaces, said switch member having an operative connection with said governor to be actuated thereby, and means for relatively arcuately axljusting the individual contact members for a definite speed response.

2. In a switch unit of the type specified, in combination, a governor, a switch arm operatively connected to said governor to be actuated thereby, a bank of substantially flat contact segments clamped together flatwise and having insulation material therebetween, the contact edge portions of said segments being arranged in stepped relation arcuately, one of said segments constituting a common conductor segment and having its arcuate contact edge contoured to follow the line of contact of the remaining group of segments, and means electrically connecting said common conductor segment to a source of electrical energy.

3. In a switch unit of the type specied, a bank of substantially flat contact segments having insulation or dielectric material therebetween, thev contact edges of said segments being arranged in stepped relation arcuately, and means adjustably clamping said segments in bank formation, the switch being adjusted by loosening the bank and arcuately moving said segments.

4. In a switch unit of the type specied, a governor, a switch arm operatively connected to said governor to be actuated thereby, a contact brush carried by said switch arm, a plurality of fiat contact segments with insulation or dielectric material therebetween, the contact edges of said segments being arranged in stepped relation arcuately with one of said segments having its arcuate contact edge shaped to follow the arcuate contour of the entire group of segments, and

means adjustably clamping said segments in bank formation.

5. A governor-controlled switch unit comprising a governor, an arcuately movable arm connected to said governor to be actuated thereby, a bank of contact segments arranged atwise with insulation material therebetween, said segments having their Contact edge portions contoured arcuately with one of said segments constituting a common conductor segment and having a contact edge describing an arc substantially equal to that defined by the contact edges of the remaining segments, and a, contact brush mounted on said arm and adapted to wipe said contact edges, said brush spanning the entire width of the bank.

G. In combination, a governor-controlled switch including a spring adapted to be compressed due to centrifugal action of the governor, a switch arm operatively connected to said governor to be actuated thereby, a bank of contacts stationarily mounted with respect to said switch arm, a brush mounted on such switch arm and adapted to wipe said contacts in successive order, and means for relatively adjusting the individual contacts for a denite speed response and also to compensate for spring tolerances.

GILES S. MOORE. EIMER. G. S'I'RECKFUSS. 

